Record: Volkswagen Group 2013 Deliveries Rise Almost 5 Percent to More Than 9.7 (2012: 9.3) Million Vehicles

(Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WOLFSBURG, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 01/11/14 --
The Volkswagen Group reported yet another strong increase in worldwide deliveries for the full year of 2013, topping the record set in 2012. "In total, our Group delivered over 9.7 million vehicles to customers last year, ranging from small city cars to heavy trucks -- more than ever before," Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said, commenting on the overall delivery figures which also include estimates for the MAN and Scania brands. Klingler continued: "Across the board, all brands contributed to these very positive results which are a very good achievement in light of the difficult conditions in markets all over the world. As far as the current year is concerned, we expect market developments on a level similar to 2013. Even though the situation in Europe would appear to be stabilizing, economic uncertainty will continue and the challenges we will be facing on markets will remain virtually unchanged."
Excluding the MAN and Scania heavy truck brands, the Volkswagen Group delivered 9.5 (2012: 9.1; +4.8 percent)* million vehicles in twelve months. The Group finished the month of December with a 6.3 percent increase, delivering 833,200 (December 2012: 784,100)* units.

Developments in the various regions and world markets were mixed. Group brands delivered 3.65 (3.67; -0.5 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market from January to December, of which 1.85 (1.85; +0.1 percent) million units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 1.16 (1.18; -1.4 percent) million customers chose a new model from the Volkswagen Group in the home market of Germany. Europe's largest automaker delivered 639,500 (644,300; -0.7 percent) vehicles in the Central and Eastern Europe region. A total of 303,200 (317,700; -4.6 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers in the Russian market during the same period.

Deliveries in the North America region from January to December grew 5.6 percent to 888,800 (841,500) units, of which 611,700 (596,100; +2.6 percent) were delivered in the United States. In the South America region, the Volkswagen Group handed over 908,000 (1,010,100; -10.1 percent) million vehicles to customers during the same period, of which 682,200 (780,200; -12.6 percent) were delivered in Brazil.

The Group recorded very encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 3.64 (3.17; +14.7 percent) million vehicles were delivered to customers in the period to December, of which 3.27 (2.81; +16.2 percent) million were handed over to customers in China (incl. Hong Kong), the Group's largest single market. In contrast, deliveries in India declined to 92,600 (114,100; -18.9 percent) units.

Outline of developments at Group brands
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.93 (5.74; +3.4 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide during the full year. The brand developed well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 2.73 (2.37; +15.0 percent) million vehicles there. Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.64 (1.70; -3.7 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market, where conditions remained difficult, of which 560,100 (586,100; -4.4 percent) units were handed over in the home market of Germany.

Audi delivered 1.58 (1.46; +8.3 percent) million vehicles worldwide in 2013. The premium brand from Ingolstadt developed particularly well in the Asia-Pacific region, where customers took possession of 579,100 (478,900; +20.9 percent) new vehicles. Audi delivered 190,300 (168,800) models in the North America region during the same period, an increase of 12.7 percent.

Sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, recorded full-year deliveries totaling 162,100 vehicles. Demand for vehicles built by the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, where 49,700 units were delivered, and in the North America region, where 46,700 vehicles were handed over to customers.

?KODA delivered a total of 920,800 (939,200; -2.0 percent) vehicles in 2013. The Czech automaker grew deliveries for the full year in Western Europe (excluding Germany), handing over 233,200 (225,900; +3.2 percent) units. The company delivered 251,800 (261,100; -3.5 percent) vehicles to customers in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

SEAT delivered 355,000 (321,000) vehicles worldwide in 2013, an increase of 10.6 percent. The Spanish brand benefited in particular from a tailwind in Germany, where deliveries grew 20.3 percent to 76,600 (63,700) units, as well as in the UK, where the company delivered 45,700 (39,000; +17.0 percent) units.